1.Gain & Lose - The Fung Sui setting of Tiu Chung Chau or Hanging Bell Island (the Golden Bell Hanging from Silk Strings)

          Located south of Kau Sai Chau in Sai Kung, Tiu Chung Chau has a cave that looks like a large bell in a temple. When the first ray of dawn enters the darkness of the cave, the cave discloses what seems to be a golden bell hanging in the air. The island is believed to take its name from this.
 

          It is said that, at the end of the Sung Dynasty, there was an official called Ho. Ho was a stroller who liked sightseeing. When he came to Tiu Chung Chau, he considered the scenery of the island to be very fine. There was an old banyan tree growing in the centre of the island then, with roots wriggling in every direction. In particular, there were two roots, as thick as a thumb, which pierced through the top of the Tiu Chung Crag. Just like two silk strings, they hung down into the cave, and it appeared as if a golden bell was hanging from them. Being a Fung Shui master, Ho realized that it was a marvelous Fung Shui site - "the Golden Bell Hanging from Silk Strings". If he could bury a relative there, his family would become immensely important. Later on, when one of his family members died, he was taken there for burial. Within less than three years, Ho was promoted and he made a fortune.

          Since then, Ho had been acting despotically and arbitrarily to make life more comfortable for himself. He ordered the fishermen to draw up their boats at the Spring and Autumn Sacrifices every year to form a bridge over the sea, one boat next to another, so that it would be easy for him to pay worship to his ancestors and to show off his high position. As it usually took seven to eight days for his worship, the livelihood of the fishermen was greatly affected because they could not go fishing during the period.

          When all the misdoings of this mean official were known to another Fung Shui master, the latter decided to teach the fishermen how to destroy the Fung Shui setting. He told them to cut off the two roots which pierced the summit of the crag to disconnect the "Golden Bell". The fishermen acted accordingly and thought that they could lead a peaceful life. However, the official remained intact. Nobody knew what had gone wrong.

          It was finally found out that this "Golden Bell Hanging from Silk Strings" Fung Shui site drew to itself the spiritual forces of Heaven and Earth, so that the essence of the Sun and the Moon impregnated the site, and thus made it very strong. The vegetation and the trees there were therefore exceptionally full of vigour and vitality. Not to speak of cutting the roots off once - even if they were cut millions of times they would still grow back!
While pondering over a way out, the Fung Shui master at last came up with a solution when he saw his old dog, Ah Wong. He immediately asked the fishermen to clean themselves and prepare properly for a midnight operation.

           At midnight, the fishermen sailed across to Tiu Chung Chau. After getting ashore, they took a large bowl of the blood of a black dog and sprinkled it over the roots. When they cut off the roots, a great noise like a howl filled the valley. At the same time, the whole hillside collapsed. The old banyan tree fell into the sea together with a vast amount of sand and mud. It appeared as if the ropes from which the Golden Bell was hanging were broken and the Golden Bell fell onto the ground into pieces.

          Not long after, the mean official was no longer seen in the government and no one knew where he had gone. From then on, the fishermen were freed from his tyranny.

 

       

 

 

2. The Unruly Horse Outside the House of Che Kung the Marshal - Che Kung Temple at Ho Chung: From the "Five Tigers from the Mountain" to the Legend of the White Horse

3. Drowning was Mistaken for Hanging - Did Someone Really Hang Himself in Tiu Keng Leng?

4. Loyalty and Fearless of Sacrifice in an Abyss of Suffering - Footsteps of Dongjiang Guerrilla Force

5. The Construction to Meet Public Need - The Building of High Island Reservoir